Archives

Thursday 18 August 2011

The mauling to death of a four-year-old girl by a pitbull terrier cross in Melbourne overnight has reignited the debate about the regulation of dog breeds that are deemed dangerous. The Victorian Government says it will review the laws, and will also provide more funds to councils to help in the enforcement of regulations. More

The Federal Opposition is maintaining pressure on Labor MP Craig Thomson, with Tony Abbott claiming the Prime Minister is treating the NSW politician like a protected species. Yet Mr Abbott has avoided answering a media question of what he'd do, if he was in a similar situation to Ms Gillard. More

The Federal Government and the Opposition have voted against two bills that would have ended or phased out the live export industry, but animal rights advocates say they'll continue to agitate against the trade. They've released new footage showing animals being mistreated in Turkey, and are urging MPs opposed to live exports not to fall silent. More

Some of the 67,000 sheep on board the disabled live export ship, the Al Messilah, have died from infection. Animal rights activists are furious, but the Australian Live Exporters Council says the deaths are within government-approved limits. More

The resources giant Santos says the true story of coal seam gas is not being told, and the industry is good for both rural Australia and the environment. The company's Vice President for Eastern Australia, James Baulderstone, also tells The World Today he's perplexed by claims that the jury is still out on whether CSG is carbon efficient. More

AMP has suffered an 18 per cent drop in its half year earnings, but CEO Craig Dunn says the business is still doing well. He's singled out the performance of the group's superannuation business, saying history shows super provides investors will superior returns over bank deposits. Meanwhile, the ASX has reported full year earnings up more than seven per cent to just over $352 million, due to an increase in derivatives trading. More

Scientists with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative say a cure could be only a few years away, with the discovery of 17 new antibodies which can combat a broad range of HIV. Dr Wayne Koff says the discovery is a major breakthrough, as one of the key difficulties in the fight against HIV is its ability to mutate and produce countless different strains. More

The Tasmanian goverment is preparing to fight the federal decision to allow the importation of apples from New Zealand. But the Federal Trade Minister says Tasmania has to comply, or risk sparking a trade war with New Zealand which may involve big tariffs on Australian imports. More

Police in the US state of Florida have foiled a bomb plot which they say could have resulted in more casualties than the Columbine School massacre. Police say they found fuses, timers, shrapnel, accelerant and plastic tubing in the bedroom of 17-year-old Jared Cano. Police allege the teenager was plotting to bomb Tampa's Freedom High School, from which he was expelled more than a year ago. More

The Queensland Corrective Services Minister says the roll out of GPS tracking for released sex offenders deemed 'high-risk' will begin by Christmas. However, the Australian Lawyers' Alliance says if the minister believes the plan will improve monitoring, then the state's controversial indefinite sentencing laws should be repealed. More

The National Film and Sound Archives has chosen 10 more recordings to add to its Sounds of Australia register. Among the new entrants are songs by Kylie Minogue, Skyhooks, the Seekers and Dame Joan Sutherland, as well as the first recording of indigenous song on a wax cylinder. More

From the Archives

Sri Lanka is now taking stock of the country's 26-year-long civil war, in which the UN estimates as many as 40,000 Tamil civilians may have been killed. This report by the ABC's Alexander McLeod in 1983 looks at the origins of the conflict as it was just beginning.